"O Temple of God! No sooner had the hosts of Divine Revelation been sent down by the Lord of all names and attributes bearing the banners of His signs, than the exponents of doubt and fancy were put to flight. They disbelieved in the clear tokens of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting, and rose up against Him in enmity and opposition. Amongst them were those who claimed: "These are not clear verses from God, nor do they proceed from an innate and untaught nature." Thus do the unbelievers seek to remedy the sickness of their hearts, utterly heedless that they thus render themselves accursed of all who dwell in heaven and on earth."
Comments:
• To begin with, let’s make a humble attempt and try to identify some of the spiritual entries/concepts that this paragraph brings to our attention. We can then strive, in light of the Writings, to gain some inkling of insights about some of them:
o “Temple of God”
o “the hosts of Divine Revelation”
o “the Lord of all names and attributes”
o “banners of His signs”
o “the exponents of doubt and fancy”
o the interaction between the “the hosts of Divine Revelation” and “the exponents of doubt and fancy”
o how those who “disbelieved in the clear tokens of God” are viewed as those who “rose up against” God
o the unbelievers accused Baha’u’llah that His Writings "are not clear verses from God” and that “they proceed from an innate and untaught nature."
o the concept of the “the sickness of …[the] hearts” of the “unbelievers”
o how the unbelievers “seek to remedy” this “sickness of their hearts”, however “utterly heedless that they thus render themselves accursed of all who dwell in heaven and on earth.”
o to be “accursed of all who dwell in heaven and on earth” – what does it mean?
• As we explored in previous paragraphs, the Manifestation of God, for us mortal beings, is the “Temple of God”. There is a beautiful explanation about this by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Some Answered Questions, where the Master is elucidating the meaning of a passage from the Bible:
“In the beginning of the eleventh chapter of the Revelation of St. John it is said: ‘And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God ….’
"This reed is a Perfect Man Who is likened to a reed, and the manner of its likeness is this: when the interior of a reed is empty and free from all matter, it will produce beautiful melodies; and as the sound and melodies do not come from the reed, but from the flute player who blows upon it, so the sanctified heart of that blessed Being is free and emptied from all save God, pure and exempt from the attachments of all human conditions, and is the companion of the Divine Spirit. Whatever He utters is not from Himself, but from the real flute player, and it is a divine inspiration. That is why He is likened to a reed; and that reed is like a rod -- that is to say, it is the helper of every impotent one, and the support of human beings. It is the rod of the Divine Shepherd by which He guards His flock and leads them about the pastures of the Kingdom.” (‘Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 45)
• Next, we come across this powerful allegorical picture in which “the hosts of Divine Revelation” which were “sent down by the Lord of all names and attributes” and “bearing the banners of His [‘Lord of all names and attributes’] signs..” encountered “the exponents of doubt and fancy”, who “disbelieved in the clear tokens of God, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting” and as a result were “put to flight.” These “exponents of doubt and fancy” subsequently “rose up” against “the Lord of all names and attributes” in “enmity and opposition.” Indeed a frightening, high-level summary of what Baha’u’llah went through! These allegories seem reminiscent of the “clash between the forces of darkness and the army of light ...” that the Guardian alludes to in one of his messages included in Citadel of Faith, p. 26.
• Let’s reflect a little bit on such metaphors so we can inspire our own souls to maintain feelings of gratefulness for having recognized Baha’u’llah. To begin with, let’s explore the Writings with respect to this metaphor of the “hosts of Divine Revelation”. In one of His Tablets, known as “Tafsír-i-Áyát-i-Yuhanná”(Commentary on Verses of John) [a provisional translation is available at . http://bahai-library.com/abdulbaha_tafsir_ayat_yuhanna] the Master, referring to the following passage from the Gospel of St. John, indicates that “Thirdly He [Christ] said: That Comforter will not speak from Himself. That means He shall be aided by the hosts of divine Revelation. He shall declare and expound all that reaches His Blessed Hearing from the Kingdom of Glory.”:
‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.’
So, in light of the above explanation, the reference to “the hosts of Divine Revelation” is a confirmation that the Manifestation of God “will not speak from Himself”, and that as the passage in the Bible says, “whatsoever he shall hear, shall he speak …”. We also know from our earlier reflections that the Entity of the Primal Will of God speaks through His Manifestations and that we now have the incredible privilege of hearing It directly through Baha’u’llah!
• Next, we notice that “the hosts of Divine Revelation” are sent by the “Lord of all names and attributes bearing the banners of His signs.” It makes you wonder as to Whom does this refer to? Once again we need to consult the Writings to see in what contexts such references are used by Baha’u’llah and if there are any specific explanations by ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi.
In the passage where Baha’u’llah explains to the King of Persia how He became a Manifestation of God we find a reference to this phrase where Baha’u’llah says:
“The learning current amongst men I studied not; their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I dwelt, that thou mayest be well assured that I am not of them who speak falsely. This is but a leaf which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still when the tempestuous winds are blowing? Nay, by Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes! They move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing before Him Who is the Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His behest was uttered. The hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful, transformed Me." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p.11)
Notice how in this passage, which was translated by the beloved Guardian, “Names” and “Attributes” are both in capital letters! Next, we find a reference in one of Baha’u’llah’s prayers (again, translated by the beloved Guardian) -- this time however, lower cases are used for “names” and “attributes”:
“Have mercy, then, O my God, upon Thy servants who are drowned in the midst of the ocean of evil suggestions, and deliver them by the power of Thy sovereignty, O Thou Who art the Lord of all names and attributes! Thou art He Who from everlasting hath ordained what hath pleased Thee, and will unto everlasting abide the same. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful." (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 257)
And then, this earlier paragraph from the earlier portions of the Surih of Temple -- Paragraph 21:
"O Tongue of this Temple! We, verily, have created thee through Our name, the All-Merciful, have taught thee whatsoever had remained concealed in the Bayan, and have bestowed upon thee the power of utterance, that thou mayest make mention of Mine exalted Self amidst My creatures. Proclaim, then, this wondrous and mighty Remembrance, and fear not the manifestations of the Evil One. Thou wert called into being for this very purpose by virtue of My transcendent and all-compelling command. Through thee have We unloosed the Tongue of Utterance to expound all that hath been, and We shall again, by My sovereign power, unloose it to speak of that which is yet to come. Erelong shall We bring into being through thee eloquent tongues that will praise and extol Me amongst the Concourse on high and amidst the peoples of the world. Thus have the verses of God been revealed, and thus hath it been decreed by the Lord of all names and attributes. Thy Lord, verily, is the True One, the Knower of things unseen. Nothing whatsoever shall prevent these tongues from magnifying their Creator. Through them, all created things shall arise to glorify the Lord of names and to bear witness that there is none other God save Me, the All-Powerful, the Most-Glorious, the Best-Beloved. Nor shall those who make mention of Me speak aught unless they be inspired by this Tongue from its lofty station. Few, however, are they who understand! No tongue is there that speaketh not the praises of its Lord and maketh not mention of His Name. Amongst the people, however, are those who understand and utter praises, and those who utter praises, yet understand not.” (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 12)
Keeping in mind, as were expressed in comments associated with a few preceding paragraphs, that it’s the Voice of the Primal Will of God, “the First Remembrance of God”, that we hear directly through Baha’u’llah in this Tablet, we get the understanding (albeit partial and imperfect) that “the Lord of all names and attributes” – with small letters – is the Entity that manifests Itself through the Manifestations of God – namely the Primal Will of God. Our understanding in this regard appears to be further substantiated by the following two quotes from Baha’u’llah – both from the Surih of Temple:
"Say: O people! Can ye ever hope to escape the sovereign power of your Lord? By the righteousness of God! No refuge will ye find in this day, and no one to protect you, save those upon whom God hath bestowed the favour of His mercy. He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Compassionate. Say: O people! Forsake all that ye possess, and enter beneath the shadow of your Lord, the All-Merciful. Better is this for you than all your works of the past and of the future. Fear ye God, and deprive not yourselves of the sweet savours of the days of the Lord of all names and attributes. Take heed lest ye alter or pervert the text of the Word of God. Walk ye in the fear of God, and be numbered with the righteous." (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, paragraph 1.32)
"O proud ones of the earth! Do ye believe yourselves to be abiding in palaces whilst He Who is the King of Revelation resideth in the most desolate of abodes? Nay, by My life! In tombs do ye dwell, could ye but perceive it. Verily, he who faileth, in these days, to be stirred by the breeze of God is accounted among the dead in the sight of Him Who is the Lord of all names and attributes. Arise, then, from the tombs of self and desire and turn unto the Kingdom of God, the Possessor of the Throne on high and of earth below, that ye may behold that which ye were promised aforetime by your Lord, the All-Knowing." (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, paragraph 1.167)
And below is another very interesting and insightful Tablet from Baha’u’llah in which He explains further this concept of the “attributes and names of God” – notice they are in lower cases – and how they “bear eloquent testimony to the revelation of that Most Great Light.”:
"Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is a direct evidence of the revelation within it of the attributes and names of God, inasmuch as within every atom are enshrined the signs that bear eloquent testimony to the revelation of that Most Great Light. Methinks, but for the potency of that revelation, no being could ever exist. How resplendent the luminaries of knowledge that shine in an atom, and how vast the oceans of wisdom that surge within a drop! To a supreme degree is this true of man, who, among all created things, hath been invested with the robe of such gifts, and hath been singled out for the glory of such distinction. For in him are potentially revealed all the attributes and names of God to a degree that no other created being hath excelled or surpassed. All these names and attributes are applicable to him. Even as He hath said: "Man is My mystery, and I am his mystery." Manifold are the verses that have been repeatedly revealed in all the Heavenly Books and the Holy Scriptures, expressive of this most subtle and lofty theme. Even as He hath revealed: "We will surely show them Our signs in the world and within themselves." Again He saith: "And also in your own selves: will ye not, then, behold the signs of God?" And yet again He revealeth: "And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves." In this connection, He Who is the eternal King -- may the souls of all that dwell within the mystic Tabernacle be a sacrifice unto Him -- hath spoken: "He hath known God who hath known himself." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 177)
In the book called ‘Selections from the Writings of the Bab’, we find a beautiful explanation concerning the Names, and names (small “n”), of God in mediums such as “the sea of God’s Names” versus “the sea of creation”, their links with the “the First Remembrance, which is the Primal Will” of God, and Its appearance in successive Manifestations of God. This reference is included below for those friends who would like to explore this subject further:
"Thy letter hath been perused. Were the truth of this Revelation to be fully demonstrated with elaborate proofs, all the scrolls that exist in the heaven and on the earth would be insufficient to contain them.
However, the substance and essence of the subject is this, that there can be no doubt that from everlasting God hath been invested with the independent sovereignty of His exalted Being, and unto everlasting He will remain inaccessible in the transcendent majesty of His holy Essence. No creature hath ever recognized Him as befitteth His recognition, nor hath any created being ever praised Him as is worthy of His praise. He is exalted above every name, and is sanctified from every comparison. Through Him all things are made known, while too lofty is His reality to be known through anyone but Him. The process of His creation hath had no beginning and can have no end, otherwise it would necessitate the cessation of His celestial grace. God hath raised up Prophets and revealed Books as numerous as the creatures of the world, and will continue to do so to everlasting.
If thou art sailing upon the sea of God's Names, which are reflected in all things, know thou that He is exalted and sanctified from being known through His creatures, or being described by His servants. Everything thou beholdest hath been called into being through the operation of His Will. How can such a created thing, therefore, be indicative of His essential oneness? God's existence in itself testifieth to His Own oneness, while every created thing, by its very nature, beareth evidence that it hath been fashioned by God. Such is the proof of consummate wisdom in the estimation of those who sail the ocean of divine Truth.
If, however, thou art sailing upon the sea of creation, know thou that the First Remembrance, which is the Primal Will of God, may be likened unto the sun. God hath created Him through the potency of His might, and He hath, from the beginning that hath no beginning, caused Him to be manifested in every Dispensation through the compelling power of His behest, and God will, to the end that knoweth no end, continue to manifest Him according to the good-pleasure of His invincible Purpose.
And know thou that He indeed resembleth the sun. Were the risings of the sun to continue till the end that hath no end, yet there hath not been nor ever will be more than one sun; and were its settings to endure for evermore, still there hath not been nor ever will be more than one sun. It is this Primal Will which appeareth resplendent in every Prophet and speaketh forth in every revealed Book. It knoweth no beginning, inasmuch as the First deriveth its firstness from It; and knoweth no end, for the Last oweth its lastness unto It.
In the time of the First Manifestation the Primal Will appeared in Adam; in the day of Noah It became known in Noah; in the day of Abraham in Him; and so in the day of Moses; the day of Jesus; the day of Muhammad, the Apostle of God; the day of the 'Point of the Bayan'; the day of Him Whom God shall make manifest; and the day of the One Who will appear after Him Whom God shall make manifest. Hence the inner meaning of the words uttered by the Apostle of God, 'I am all the Prophets', inasmuch as what shineth resplendent in each one of Them hath been and will ever remain the one and the same sun. (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, pp. 124-126)
Please see Baha'i Points of Interest for a summary of what Baha'u'llah called God's "most beauteous names," and "most noble and sublime attributes."
